Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2026

Storm Warning 29, NWS Anchorage, AK

January 20, 2026

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this storm warning at Jan 20, 2026, 2:54 AM AKST. It was in force for 36 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 20, 2026, 2:54 AM AKST (11:54 UTC)
Expired
Jan 21, 2026, 2:56 PM AKST
In force
36 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

544 
FZAK62 PAFC 201154
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
254 AM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest
one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height.

PKZ499-210145-
254 AM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 989 mb low near 56N 169E moves inland of the Kamchatka 
Peninsula through this evening. A 980 mb low near 53N 177W moves 
to 58N 176E at 988 mb this afternoon. This low moves inland of the
Kamchatka Peninsula through Wed morning. A 971 mb North Pacific 
low moves to 55N 167E at 976 mb Wed afternoon. This low moves to 
the Kamchatka Peninsula by Thu morning.

$$

PKZ411-210145-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
254 AM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

...STORM WARNING WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 15 to 30 kt becoming S in the afternoon. 
Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...S wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. Rain with snow.
.WED...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 15 to 22 ft. Rain and snow.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 17 to 25 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.

$$

PKZ412-210145-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
254 AM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft.
.WED...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. Snow with rain.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft.

$$

PKZ413-210145-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
254 AM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 35 to 50 kt becoming S 25 to 40 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...SE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. Rain and snow.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft.

$$

PKZ414-210145-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
254 AM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt diminishing to up to 15 kt after midnight.
Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.WED...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.WED NIGHT...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.THU...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.FRI...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 3 to 8 ft.

$$
3 follow-up statements
092 
FZAK62 PAFC 202334
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
234 PM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest
one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height.

PKZ499-211445-
234 PM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 986 mb low near 57N 175E continues west and moves inland of the
Kamchatka Peninsula through tonight. A 970 mb N Pacific low near 
52N 166E Wed morning continues to the Kamchatka Peninsula through 
Thu morning. Its front moves across the Aleutians tonight through 
Wed afternoon.

$$

PKZ411-211445-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
234 PM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

...STORM WARNING WEDNESDAY...

.TONIGHT...S wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. Rain.
.WED...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 15 to 22 ft. Rain and snow.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 25 to 40 kt diminishing to 20 to 30 kt 
after midnight. Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.THU...S wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 12 to 19 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft.

$$

PKZ412-211445-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
234 PM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TONIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft.
.WED...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.THU...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 14 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.

$$

PKZ413-211445-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
234 PM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TONIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...SE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. Rain and snow.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft.

$$

PKZ414-211445-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
234 PM AKST Tue Jan 20 2026

.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt diminishing to up to 15 kt 
after midnight. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.WED...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.WED NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.THU...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 8 ft.

$$
964 
FZAK62 PAFC 211159
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
259 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest
one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height.

PKZ499-220130-
259 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 968 mb low near 52N 165E moves to the Kamchatka Peninsula Thu 
morning and inland through Thu afternoon. A 997 mb North Pacific 
low develops this afternoon and moves to 47N 175E at 998 mb mid-
morning Thu. This low dissipates through Thu evening. Another 
North Pacific low at 987 mb Thu morning moves to 49N 171E at 971 
mb by Fri morning as its front moves into the western Bering.

$$

PKZ411-220130-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
259 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...S wind 30 to 45 kt diminishing to 20 to 35 kt after midnight.
Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.THU...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.

$$

PKZ412-220130-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
259 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt becoming 25 kt after midnight. 
Seas 10 to 18 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 13 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.

$$

PKZ413-220130-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
259 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.

$$

PKZ414-220130-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
259 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TODAY...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.THU...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.

$$
625 
FZAK62 PAFC 212356
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest
one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height.

PKZ499-221545-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 976 mb low near 56N 165E continues toward Kamchatka Peninsula 
through Thu morning. A 982 mb N Pacific low reaches 51N 172E by Fri 
afternoon at 970 mb. Its front reaches the western Aleutians Thu 
afternoon. Another weak front reaches the Alaska Peninsula Fri 
afternoon.

$$

PKZ411-221545-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 30 to 45 kt diminishing to 20 to 35 kt after
midnight. Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.THU...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt becoming SE 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 9 to 15 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft.
.SAT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft.

$$

PKZ412-221545-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt becoming 25 kt after midnight. Seas
9 to 17 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 13 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.

$$

PKZ413-221545-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 30 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.SAT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ414-221545-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.THU...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.FRI...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this storm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this storm warning went out at Jan 19, 4:00 PM AKST, 10 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 19, 4:00 PM AKST, 10 hours 54 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
400 PM AKST Mon Jan 19 2026

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)...

Weather continues to stay relatively quiet for Southcentral
Alaska for the short term. A weak shortwave rotating through the
ridge axis is giving Kodiak Island a bit of rain and dense fog
this afternoon. Surface high pressure has skirted eastward into
Canada, which has given some of the region, especially the Cook
Inlet, a light southwesterly wind. An upper ridge continues to
anchor itself over the region, resulting in a stout low to mid
level inversion. This will allow valley locations to remain colder
tonight than other locations with elevation. For example, the
expectation is the Anchorage Hillside will stay several degrees
warmer tonight than the Anchorage Bowl. The inversion also means
very little mixing this evening and overnight, setting the stage
for the chance of fog to work its way northward up the Cook Inlet
and across Anchorage. Again, because of warmer air aloft, it may
be difficult to scatter some of the fog out of the area once it
establishes itself. Hi-res guidance also has areas of fog re-
developing across the western Prince William Sound and for the
Copper River Basin for Tuesday morning. Upper level ridging and
surface high pressure will continue to hold on through mid week,
giving the Cook Inlet more chances of fog, and the forecast
challenge will remain how far up the Inlet the fog will drift. The
rest of the short term outlook looks dry with surface
temperatures becoming increasingly colder as we move into mid to
late week.

-AM

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS
(Days 1 through 3: Today through Thursday afternoon)...

KEY MESSAGE:

Southeasterly flow continues through Thursday across Southwest
Alaska and the Aleutians with light precipitation likely for
higher terrain along the southwest coast into Tuesday. Building
high pressure for the eastern Bering and Southwest mainland
persists through Thursday, while several lows lift across the
western Bering.

Discussion:

Dry conditions are expected across most of the southwestern
mainland while a weak disturbance lifts across the Pribilof
Islands bringing increased wind and a slight chance for rain this
afternoon. The southern AKPEN, such as Chignik and Sand Point
will continue to see showery and overcast conditions this
afternoon. Moisture will continue to Nunivak Island, Nelson
Island, and the Kuskokwim Delta Coast through the overnight hours.
Any precipitation that falls will be a very light wintry mix as
temperatures aloft are marginally cool and warming with time. The
best chance for light freezing rain/snow mix is across
Nunivak/Nelson Islands overnight tonight into Tuesday morning.
Upslope flow along the Kilbuck and Ahklun mountains could also
help to ring out moisture in the form of a light wintry mix along
the eastern facing slopes of the mountains. The population centers
such as Dillingham, Togiak, Manokotak, and Aleknagik look to
remain just above freezing with mostly rain and a few flurries
mixing in at times. Conditions become drier across the Southwest
mainland as high pressure builds Wednesday.

Farther out west, a North Pacific low continues to lift northward
into the Bering Sea tonight. While the center of rotation passes
directly over Adak, the main part of the front will pass east of
Adak and Atka, with the highest winds passing just east of Atka.
Gusty southerly winds up to storm-force and rain peak early
Tuesday morning before winds shift to southwesterly and decrease
as the low passes. Late Tuesday morning the front passes west of
the Pribilof Islands, where wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour
will be possible.

A brief lull in conditions will be interrupted by another front
from a North Pacific low west of Attu with storm-force winds
passing between Shemya and Adak Tuesday night through Wednesday
afternoon. This low keeps a northward track before turning west
into the Russian mainland Thursday morning. The pattern continues
with yet another front, which sets up to pass between Kiska and
Atka by Thursday afternoon.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Friday through Monday)...

Confidence remains high for high pressure to persist across the
state into the weekend. While much of the mainland will experience
dry and quiet weather, there continues to be a strong signal for
persistent upper level troughing over Kamchatka and the Western
Bering Sea through the period. Several shortwaves and accompanying
surface lows will lift from the North Pacific and into the
western Bering, keeping unsettled and active weather mainly
confined to the Western and Central Aleutians. Each wave will move
in succession through the Aleutians and Bering Sea, bringing
multiple rounds of potentially storm force winds and precipitation
through the weekend into early next week.

The upper level ridge looks to retreat to the northwest towards
eastern Siberia and the northern Bering by the end of the weekend.
This leads to a shift in the storm track and disturbances lifting
out of the North Pacific and into the Gulf, bringing more active
weather across the AKPen and coastal Southcentral. Heading into
early next week, model spread begins to grow but ensemble means
remain consistent in a trough digging south across the interior,
bringing increased precipitation chances and cooler temperatures
across inland Southcentral locations.

JH

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...Light, mostly northerly, winds will persist through Tuesday.
Conditions will be favorable for low stratus or fog development
tonight as high pressure builds over the region with a strong
inversion aloft.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 19, 3:12 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC48 hr
Jan 20, 2:28 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days
Jan 20, 3:01 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC49 hr
Jan 20, 3:01 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC49 hr
Jan 20, 2:34 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC3 days
Jan 20, 2:37 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC37 hr

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2026Every storm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.